U.S. Jobless Claims Hold at 213,000, Signaling Stable Labor Market
Initial claims for unemployment insurance in the United States remained unchanged last week, suggesting continued stability in the labor market despite broader economic uncertainty.
Key Takeaways
- Claims Unchanged: Initial unemployment claims held steady at 213,000 for the week ending Feb. 28.
- Insured Jobless Rate Stable: The insured unemployment rate remained 1.2% for the week ending Feb. 21.
- Continuing Claims Rise: Insured unemployment increased by 46,000 to 1.868 million.
- Labor Market Still Tight: Claims remain historically low, signaling resilience in the U.S. job market.
For the week ending February 28, seasonally adjusted initial jobless claims totaled 213,000, matching the previous week’s revised level, according to data released Thursday. The prior reading was revised up slightly from 212,000 to 213,000.
Continuing Claims Edge Higher
While initial claims held steady, the number of Americans receiving ongoing unemployment benefits increased.
Seasonally adjusted continuing claims rose to 1.868 million for the week ending February 21, an increase of 46,000 from the prior week’s revised level. The four-week average for continuing claims climbed to 1,851,500, up 6,750 from the previous week.
The insured unemployment rate remained unchanged at 1.2%, indicating relatively stable conditions in the labor market.
Unadjusted Claims Rise in Line With Seasonal Trends
On an unadjusted basis, initial claims under state programs rose to 213,090, an increase of 18,820 claims (9.7%) from the previous week.
The increase closely matched expectations based on seasonal factors, which projected a rise of roughly 18,938 claims.
For comparison, 226,019 initial claims were recorded during the same week in 2025, suggesting current levels remain slightly below those seen a year earlier.
Insured Unemployment Also Higher
Unadjusted insured unemployment totaled 2.21 million, rising by 70,529 (3.3%) from the previous week.
Despite the increase, the insured unemployment rate held steady at 1.4%, unchanged from the prior week. A year earlier, the rate stood at 1.5%, with 2.23 million people receiving benefits.
Overall, the latest data suggests the U.S. labor market remains relatively strong, with layoffs staying near historically low levels even as continuing claims show modest increases.
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